FIGURE 8. Recommended hookup for
connecting the output of any VLSI VS10xx-
based MIDI sound module with an external
amplifier. This is from the manufacturer's
datasheet. Only one stereo side is shown
connected.

set the value. The three most common
control change messages – and the ones
used in the example sketches – are:

• Reset. This pin provides a method of resetting the MIDI
chip on the sound board to a known state. Do this after
the board has been powered up, but before sending any
MIDI data. Resetting is accomplished by momentarily
bringing the pin LOW, then HIGH again.

Figure 8 shows the basic wiring points between the
Arduino and MIDI board. If you’re using a shield, the

Thanks to the “maker
movement” there are now a
number of affordable MIDI sound
modules available for the Arduino
and other microcontrollers. Figure
6 shows a MIDI sound module
shield from SparkFun, designed
for the Arduino Uno (and
compatible) development board.

Variations include shields that
combine MIDI with MP3 playback,
as well as breakout boards that
provide additional connection pins
for more advanced hookups.
Figure 7 shows both of these
styles (also from SparkFun). The
MIDI/MP3 shield includes an
onboard micro-SD card reader that
provides storage for the sound files.

Despite all the pins on these
boards, most modules require only
a couple of connections for MIDI
operation: